Muhammad Ali refuses induction into the U.S. Army on religious grounds and is immediately stripped of his heavyweight title.
At a Glance
- Date
- 28 April 1967
- Location
- Houston, Texas
- Key people
- Muhammad Ali
- Category
- Sports
- Source
- Clay v. United States (1971) · Britannica
What It Meant Then
His stand against the Vietnam War made him a global symbol of principled resistance.
What It Means Now
The Supreme Court unanimously overturned his conviction in 1971.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “Muhammad Ali Refuses Induction.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/muhammad-ali-refuses-induction/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Muhammad Ali Refuses Induction. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/muhammad-ali-refuses-induction/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “Muhammad Ali Refuses Induction.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/muhammad-ali-refuses-induction/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.